'Beef State' screening is Wednesday

October 28, 2008

When a documentary about the history of Nebraska's beef industry is shown at Chadron State College on Wednesday, Oct. 29, the audience will likely be familiar with some of the subjects.

"Beef State," a documentary co-produced by NET Television and the Nebraska State Historical Society, will be shown in Memorial Hall at 6 p.m. The screening is open to the public free of charge.

Collections of the C.F. Coffee Gallery at CSC's Sandoz Center were used in the film's production. Moni Hourt, director of education and outreach for the Coffee Gallery, and ranchers from the region are featured in the documentary.

The documentary has already aired on NET. However, many western Nebraskans do not receive the station from their satellite providers. This will be the first of several special screenings of the documentary in western Nebraska to serve these viewers.

The mission of the Coffee Gallery corresponds with the goal of the film -- to provide educational outreach about early ranching life in Nebraska.

"The whole purpose of the ‘Beef State' project was to showcase and teach about the heritage and history of Nebraska's beef industry and its importance to the state's growth," said Jeff Beckman, executive director of the NET Television and Radio Foundation.

Featured subjects and others involved with the documentary's production plan to attend Wednesday's screening. DVDs of the documentary will be available for purchase, and light refreshments will be served.